Veterinarian - ER

Stephanie Boisvert, DVM

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Dr. Stephanie Boisvert is an emergency veterinarian at Pieper Veterinary in Middletown. Originally from South Windsor, CT, she graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Biology from Tufts University and obtained her veterinary degree from Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. In addition to veterinary medicine, she also studied and is certified in Fear Free handling and  RECOVER CPR Basic and Advanced Life support, and is a member of Phi Zeta Veterinary Honor Society. She has a clinical interest in emergency medicine and diagnostic imaging, and completed a one-year rotating internship at Pieper Veterinary from 2023-2024.

Dr. Boisvert lives with her cattle dog mix, Freo, and when not working she enjoys baking bread, hiking with her dog, gardening, and doing a jigsaw puzzle with a cup of tea. She finds motivation for her work in veterinary medicine every day by witnessing the strong bonds formed between people and their pets, and her favorite aspect of her job is being able to help support the wellbeing of her patients, their families, and her colleagues.

Special Interests:

  • Diagnostic Imaging
  • Emergency medicine

Veterinarian - ER

Christopher Blanch, DVM

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Dr. Christopher Blanch is an emergency veterinarian at Pieper Veterinary. His interests include emergency surgery, oncology, and low-cost spay/neuter surgery. As a long-time resident of Connecticut, Dr. Blanch left the state to obtain his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Rhode Island. He went on to complete his doctorate degree at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2004 followed by a rotating internship at Ocean State Veterinary Specialists in RI.

As a former medical director at a high-volume, low-cost spay/neuter clinic, Dr. Blanch has a special interest in animal population control and shelter medicine. The most important part of veterinary medicine for him is being able to give a voice to those that don’t have one.

Dr. Blanch resides in southeastern CT with his dogs, Navah and Stewie, and cats, Vinny, Chewy, and Bing Clawsby. In his spare time he loves anything to do with being on the ocean, including kayaking and kayak fishing.

Special Interests:

  • Surgery
  • Oncology

Veterinarian - Specialist

Samantha Guida, DVM, DACVECC

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Dr. Samantha Guida is a board-certified critical care specialist with Pieper Veterinary’s Resuscitation & Critical Care department. Born and raised in Rhode Island, Dr. Guida obtained her undergraduate degree in biology from Bridgewater College in Virginia in 2014, and obtained her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2019 from St. George’s University in Grenada, where she was inducted into Phi Zeta Honor Society of Veterinary Medicine and graduated summa cum laude. Following a Small Animal Rotating Internship at Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston, MA, she completed a 3-year Emergency and Critical Care residency at University of Georgia in Athens, GA. Dr. Guida became board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care in 2023.

During her residency, Dr. Guida prioritized teaching students, interns, and residents in both the clinical and didactic setting, and has provided numerous lectures on topics including diabetic ketoacidosis, upper airway obstructions, transfusion medicine, snake envenomation, I-PASS rounds, CPR, ureteral obstructions, and heat stroke. She was selected for an oral presentation at the International Veterinary Emergency Critical Care Symposium on a case report that was accepted for publication in the Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, titled “Rebound hyperkalemia in a dog with albuterol toxicosis after cessation of potassium supplementation”. In 2023, Dr. Guida also published a research project in a human journal, Applied Microbiology, titled “Comparison of Multiplex Real-Time PCR with Standard Urine Culture for Identification of Pathogens Associated with Canine Urinary Tract Infections”.

Dr. Guida’s critical care interests include sepsis, severe metabolic derangements, fluid resuscitation in critical post-operative patients, and polytraumas. She is a member of the AVMA, VECCS, and ACVECC.

Dr. Guida lives with her pitbull/boxer mix Bentley and when not working enjoys traveling, spending time outdoors and at the beach, paddle boarding, and caring for her many houseplants. While at work, Dr. Guida most enjoys working with the most critical patients to give them the best chance at recovery, while also working together with their families to keep communications clear and educational. She is excited to join Pieper’s collaborative team, where she is committed to providing high-quality, individualized patient care.

Special Interests:

  • Sepsis, SIRS (systemic inflammatory response syndrome), and MODS (multiorgan dysfunction syndrome)
  • Post-operative management
  • Fluid therapy
  • Severe metabolic derangements
  • Intoxications
  • Polytraumas

Veterinarian- ER/Urgent Care

Kathleen M. Kimball, DVM

Dr. Kathleen Kimball is an Emergency Veterinarian at Pieper Veterinary since 2021, as well as one of our Internship Program Directors. Although originally from the San Francisco Bay area, she graduated from The American University in Washington, DC, and later earned her doctorate from Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She completed a rotating internship at Hope Advanced Veterinary Center and a specialty internship in emergency and critical care at the Veterinary Specialty Center, in addition to being certified in Iditarod Trail Medicine. Dr. Kimball is a remote lecturer and lab facilitator at Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine and is a member of the Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care Society. In addition to veterinary medicine, she also studied Spanish language and literature.

Dr. Kimball lives in Connecticut with Elsa, her Pekingese/Chihuahua mix, and when not working she enjoys hiking and running, in addition to working with veterinary and medical students with their applications to professional school. She is a visual artist/illustrator and has contributed her art to books, periodicals, and city events. She loves pub trivia, Disneyland, horror movies, Korean BBQ, Jackie Chan, cooking, and puns (the highest form of humor). She is passionate about teaching and mentoring up-and-coming veterinary students and staff to pass on the wisdom and education she’s been able to learn.

Special Interests:

  • Teaching and mentorship of veterinary students and new graduates
  • Medical mathematics
  • Sedation and anesthesia
  • Neonatal critical care
  • Avian and exotic animal medicine

Veterinarian - ER

Melissa McDaniel, DVM, MPH

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Dr. Melissa McDaniel is an emergency veterinarian at Pieper Veterinary, and works primarily out of our Middletown emergency and specialty hospital. Originally from New York, she graduated from Dartmouth College, and later received her doctorate from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. Dr. McDaniel has special interests in stabilizing critical patients, diabetic ketoacidosis, and wound repair.

Dr. McDaniel has wanted to become a veterinarian for as long as she can remember. She is married, has two children, and lives with her dog, Grizwald, and her cats, Ellen and Potter. In addition to practicing medicine, she also enjoys singing, baking, and traveling.

Special Interests:

  • Stabilizing critical patients
  • Diabetic ketoacidosis
  • Wound repair

Veterinarian - ER

Daniel Niemczyk, DVM

Dr. Dan Niemczyk has been an Emergency Veterinarian at Pieper Veterinary since 2013 and has special interests in both emergency and transfusion medicine. He is a Connecticut native from Enfield, and attended Becker College for undergrad, followed by the University of Tennessee, where he received his DVM. Dr. Niemcyzk is a member of the AVMA, CVMA, and VECCS.

At home, Dr. Niemczyk spends time with a house full of critters, including two cats, Logan and Storm, a dog, Dahlia, and two red-eared sliders, which are turtles, named Godzilla and Tim Tim Timilton; a big name for a little animal. He enjoys cooking and hiking, and feels the most rewarding part of his job is to see happy owners take home a pet knowing they are feeling better and on the road to recovery.

Special Interests:

  • Emergency care
  • Transfusion medicine

Veterinarian - ER

Jessi Taylor, DVM

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Dr. Jessi Taylor is an emergency veterinarian at Pieper Veterinary, and has been with the company since 2022. Born in a small farming town in Kentucky, she attended the University of Louisville and graduated from the Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine where she was recognized and awarded for her proficiency in emergency medicine, critical care, anesthesia, and analgesia. Dr. Taylor completed a rotating internship at Pieper before beginning her career in emergency medicine. She is a member of the AVMA and VECCS and is certified in RECOVER CPR basic and advanced life support.

Dr. Taylor is Fear Free certified and previously used to train service dogs for a non-profit organization in Louisville. She has a clinical interest in animal behavior, in addition to emergency medicine, anesthesia, and analgesia. In addition to veterinary medicine, she also studied Japanese, German, and Veterinary Disaster Medicine, and is FEMA certified in disaster preparedness for veterinary medicine.

Dr. Taylor was inspired to pursue a career in veterinary medicine after caring for a very sick puppy as a young child, so that she can be able to help pets and their families who find themselves in tough situations. She lives with her partner, her two dogs, Rocket the German shepherd and Honeybee the Cavalier King Charles spaniel, and two fancy rats named Giuseppe and Lorenzo. When not working, Dr. Taylor enjoys cold process soap making, watercolor painting, photography, and hand embroidery.

Special Interests:

  • Anesthesia and analgesia
  • Emergency medicine
  • Behavior

Veterinarian - ER

Jessica Urbonas, DVM

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Department Head – Emergency

Originally from Connecticut, Dr. Jessica Urbonas competed in track and field at the University of Delaware before receiving her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University in 2008. She is the head of emergency medicine and intern director at Pieper.

Dr. Urbonas has special interests in education and mentorship as well as trauma and endocrine emergencies.  She enjoys working in emergency medicine because she is able to be there for animals and their people when they truly need help.

She lives with her husband and son, their dogs, Dwight, and Beasley, and their cat, Halen.  When not working, she loves traveling, cooking, and hiking.​

Special Interests:

  • Trauma
  • Endocrine emergencies

Veterinarian - ER

David Vafek, VMD

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Dr. David Vafek is an Emergency Veterinarian at Pieper Veterinary who graduated from the College of the Holy Cross. and obtained his doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. He completed his internships at the VCA Veterinary Referral and Emergency Centers in Norwalk and Shelton, CT.

Dr. Vafek is a member of the VECCS and the AVMA, and in addition to veterinary medicine, also has a degree in biology.

Special Interests:

  • Emergency care